Method and gateway for controlling call routing

ABSTRACT

A gateway ( 111, 200 ) and method for routing calls for a wireless communication unit ( 113 ) via a selected network ( 105, 124, 131 ) comprises an access point ( 217 ) supporting a wireless LAN and a modem ( 203, 229 ) for wireless connections to a wireless WAN and an interface  227  with a wired local loop ( 105 ). The methodology involves using a first network, such as a local loop if available and a second network, such as a packet data WAN  131  otherwise as well as maintaining the busy status of the first network via the second network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and morespecifically methods and apparatus for controlling call routing for acommunications unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Given the increasing pervasiveness of wide area networks (WANs), such ascellular networks (CNs), and the increased bandwidth and system capacityavailable for new cellular systems that are being deployed, it isexpected that cellular WANs will become legitimate suppliers ofbroadband network services for residential customers. It is alsopossible that cellular WANs will provide alternative network access forvoice and data with the development of voice over internet protocol (IP)for residential customers.

However, it is also expected that the public switched telephone network(PSTN) via local loops will remain a viable network for ordinary voicecommunications and further that the tariffs for local loop service willbe lower than tariffs for cellular or cellular broadband access. Whilecall forwarding exists this does not address complex call terminationoptions or call origination issues unless unique devices are used orallow for routing via a preferred network.

Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for controlling callrouting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which together with the detailed description below are incorporatedin and form part of the specification, serve to further illustratevarious embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary environment depicting a local areanetwork and wide area network with a residential communications system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary residential gateway having awireless wide area network, a wireless local area network, and a localloop interface;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling call routing for acommunication unit via a selected network;

FIG. 4 is a more detailed flow diagram of a method used to select anetwork for routing incoming calls; and

FIG. 5 is a more detailed flow diagram of a method used to select anetwork to route outgoing calls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In overview, the present disclosure concerns systems, methods, andequipment or apparatus that provide communications services tosubscribers or users of such systems and equipment and specificallytechniques for controlling call routing via a selected network suitablefor utilization in a residential environment. More particularly, variousinventive concepts and principles embodied in systems, apparatus,wireless communication units or subscriber devices, and methods thereinfor providing, initiating, or facilitating a novel and seamless costeffective call routing solution is discussed and described. Note thatthe wireless communications units or subscriber devices can be a varietyof devices. Such wireless subscriber devices include personal digitalassistants, personal messaging units, personal computers, wirelesshandsets or devices, or equivalents thereof, provided such devices arearranged and constructed for operation on multiple wireless networks,such as a wide area network and a local area network.

The communications systems and wireless subscriber devices that are ofparticular interest are those that may provide or facilitate voice ordata or messaging services over wide area networks (WANs). Suchconventional two way systems and devices include various cellular phonesystems including analog and digital cellular, CDMA (code divisionmultiple access) and variants thereof, GSM (Global System for Mobile),GPRS (General Packet Radio System), 2.5 G and 3G systems such as UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) systems, integrated digitalenhanced networks and variants or evolutions thereof. Furthermore, thewireless communications devices or units of interest, in variousembodiments, will have short range communications capability normallyreferred to as W-LAN capabilities, such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, orHiper-Lan and the like that preferably utilize CDMA, frequency hopping,TDMA (time division multiple access), OFDM (orthogonal frequencydivision multiple) access technologies and one or more of variousnetworking protocols, such as TCP/IP (Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol), IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/SequentialPacket Exchange), Net BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System), orintegrated digital enhanced network protocols.

As further discussed below, various inventive principles andcombinations thereof are advantageously employed to route calls viapreferred networks. Note that this general rule will have variousexceptions where such call routing is not appropriate such as when thepreferred network is not available to the wireless communications unitdue to physical location or is otherwise occupied and so forth as willbe explained and developed below. In this manner, a wireless device orunit can send and receive calls through the appropriate networkproviding the principles or equivalents thereof as discussed below areutilized.

The instant disclosure further explains in an enabling fashion the bestmodes of making and using various embodiments in accordance with thepresent invention. The disclosure further offers to enhance anunderstanding and appreciation for the inventive principles andadvantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention.The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including anyamendments made during the pendency of this application and allequivalents of those claims as issued.

It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if any, suchas first and second, top and bottom, and the like are used solely todistinguish one from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions.

Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principlesare best implemented with or in software programs or instructions andintegrated circuits (ICs) such as application specific ICs. It isexpected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possiblysignificant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example,available time, current technology, and economic considerations, whenguided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readilycapable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICswith minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity andminimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and conceptsaccording to the present invention, further discussion of such softwareand ICs, if any, will be limited to the essentials with respect to theprinciples and concepts used by the preferred embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram of an exemplary environment depicting alocal area network and wide area network with a residentialcommunications system will be discussed and described. The combinedsystem 100 is compliant with one or more air interface standards, suchas GSM, CDMA, or the like as noted above, and is capable of providingtwo-way voice or data communications, or both, with appropriate wirelessor wired communication units.

The diagram includes a residence 101 that is provided with plain oldtelephone service (POTS) supplied via a local loop 105 to telephone unit103 and other devices with a POTS interface, such as possible one ormore computers, such as computer 107 and a residential gateway 111. Asis known, the local loop 105 typically used in the residence 101 usuallylimits voice traffic delivery options to multiple telephone lines andcall waiting. Some regions also provide DSL (digital subscriber link)service when such service is available via the local loop. The telephoneunit 103 may be any telephone device such as corded, cordless, or thelike that is compliant with any POTS. The POTS is capable of sending andreceiving voice and data transmissions through a communication linkestablished with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 117 vianetwork interface device (NID) 115. The PSTN 117 that provides POTS is acircuit-switched network. When a call is made between two parties usingPOTS, the connection is maintained for the entire duration of the call.The gateway 111 or residential gateway will be further discussed below,however it is worth noting that the gateway 111 supports a wirelesslocal area network (LAN) that allows properly equipped devices, such aswireless communication units 113 and the computers 107, 109 to couplevia the LAN to the gateway.

In addition it is expected that the residence 101 will also have or bewithin range of other communication networks and services, such as oneor more wireless wide area networks (WANs). As depicted in a simplifiedform, one such WAN is a conventional cellular system or WAN 124comprising base sites 125, base site controllers 127 (one depicted), amobile switching center 129 and associated home location register 121all inter coupled as depicted. Note that in some embodiments thiscellular WAN may be a circuit switched GSM WAN, sometime known as asecond generation network. Furthermore another wireless WAN is shown andavailable for service. This WAN is depicted, by way of example as aknown GSM based WAN 131 with relatively broadband packet switchedservice, such as a GPRS, 2.5G, or 3G network, and comprises the basesites 125, base site controllers 127, SGSN(s) (serving GPRS supportnode) and GGSN (Gateway GPRS support node) all inter coupled as depictedwith each other as well as the MSC 129 and HLR 121. This WAN 131 allowsor supports broadband connections to the Internet 123 as well as VoIP(voice over Internet protocol) voice connections to properly equippedcommunications devices. As is known the GSM based WAN 131 is packetswitched rather than circuit switched as is often the case for thecellular WAN (first generation WAN) 124 and the local loop. Note furtherthat while described here as two WANs, these networks are oftencollectively viewed as a WAN with packet switched and circuit switchedservices.

The wireless communication units 113 represent any type of wirelesscommunications device or unit, such as wireless phones, radiotelephonesincluding those adapted for coupling with data terminals (e.g., portablecomputers), dedicated data units (e.g., personal digital assistants), orwireless adapter devices (e.g., wireless modems adapted for couplingwith computers, message pads, etc.) capable of establishing acommunication link over a WAN. The wireless communication units 113 insome instances and some embodiments are capable of sending and receivingvoice and/or data through a communication link established with thewireless WANs, including specifically the cellular WAN 124 and possiblythe GSM WAN 131 as well as the wireless LAN supported by the gateway111. Note that when the wireless communications devices are proximate tothe residence or specifically the gateway 111 they are expected to be incommunication with the gateway rather than with the WANS 124, 131. Thewireless communication units 113 will include appropriate circuitry andfunctionality such as transceivers and controllers to support therequisite communication links and call processing all as known.

One further entity shown in FIG. 1 is a soft switch 119 that provides aninterface or gateway between the wireless WANs 124, 131 and the PSTN117. The soft switch 119 interfaces with the HLR 121 and thus supportsmobility of communications units within the packet data WAN 131 andbetween the LAN and the WANs as well as routing via the WAN or PSTN. Thesoft switch provides an IP address via the WAN 131 to the ResidentialGateway 111 at initialization that is used for subsequent interactionbetween the gateway and the soft switch, e.g. for WAN sessions via theWAN 131. It also provides session processing and controls mediaconnection switching and signaling for the communication units 113. Thesoft switch acts as a gateway between networks by translating anycontrol signals from one protocol, such as IP based packet data toSignaling System 7 for interfacing with the PSTN or relevant protocolfor interfacing to the MSC 129. The mobility management capabilities ofthe SS 119 also include handoff, the ability to keep an active sessionconnected and functioning when a cellular unit 113 on the session movesamong the coverage areas provided by the base station 125 on the Wan131. In addition, the call processing software within the softswitch 119is responsible for routing both callers and subscribers based oninformation received from the gateway 111. It should be noted that thecall routing function may be separate from the soft switch based onimplementation priorities and preferences. For example, the informationreceived may instruct the call processing software within the softswitch119 to deliver callers or calls received to another network, a specificnumber or to voice mail. The instruction may be to place callers onhold, connect callers with specific communications units, or swap acaller on hold with caller involved in a current call with the unit. Inaddition, the instruction may include performing conferencing(conference communications unit calls with an administrative applicationto receive commands, conference callers with the communication units,and generally duplicate typical functionality generally available with alocal loop. Accordingly, the call routing function must maintain thelogical busy/idle status of the local loop for purposes of calldelivery.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an exemplary residential gatewayhaving a wireless wide area network, a wireless local area network, anda local loop interface will be discussed and described. The residentialgateway or gateway 200 facilitates residential packet data services viaa packet data WAN, such as WAN 131 and represents an alternative accessconcept in the residence. The service is targeted at residential usersof Internet access services and is intended to compete with otheroptions for access, such as dial-up access. The anticipated user may beadding a second “phone line” to accommodate Internet access or perhapsalready has a second phone line. The service is targeted for accessperformance that is equivalent to or better than existing dial-upservices at competitive pricing. The service may be most prevalent inand offered by cellular carriers in largely suburban and cityneighborhood areas. The service is suitable as a second phone lineincluding voice service as well as data. Perhaps, the service providedwith the gateway evolves to become a wireless replacement for some wiredlocal access. The subscriber uses a wireless LAN client at each of oneor more computers to form a home network with the WLAN 802.XX, (depictedas 802.11b but can include 802.11g, 802.11a, or other wireless LANaccess technologies such as HiperLan) access point 217 in theresidential gateway 200. The gateway also includes a modem that supportsa high speed or 3G packet data link with the packet data WAN 131. Thismodem connection provides an always-on WAN connection to an InternetService Provider (ISP) and thus the Internet 123. Thus the computer useruses the LAN connection to the gateway to gain a connection to theInternet.

The residential gateway 200 is optimally placed in a location offeringgood wireless WAN coverage, typically at a window. Power to theresidential gateway 200 is nominally provided by an AC/DC walltransformer 225, internal power supply 223, and ON/OFF switch 221. LEDs205 indicate the operating status of the residential gateway 200.

The residential gateway 200 includes one or more input ports capable ofreceiving different wired signals simultaneously or separately. A serialport 201 is capable of receiving a signal from a router, cable box,satellite dish, or DSL connection, for example. The serial port 201 canprovide access to an Internet service provider (ISP), which wouldprovide wired access to the Internet. The residential gateway 200 isconnected via two or four wire cable to the local loop 105 and thus PSTN117 via an RJ-11 port 227, or the like. The residential gateway 200 alsoincludes multiple antennas 219, 220 that receive different wirelesssignals enabling wireless communication with cordless or wirelesscommunications units 113 and the WANs 124, 131, respectively. Theantennas 219 are capable of receiving wireless signals or signals from alocal area network (LAN), such as a home computer or units 113 via an802.XX access point (AP) 217, or the like, and the antenna 220 exchangessignals with the cellular or packet data WAN via, for example, a CDMAtransceiver 229 (part of the modem noted above), or the like. Forexample in addition to the wireless communication units 113, atelephone, television, computer, or printer if properly configured canall be connected to the residential gateway 200 either by wires orwirelessly.

Still referring to FIG. 2, a control processor or controller 209 isconfigured to support and control the functionality of the gateway. Thecontrol processor 209 runs an operating system (OS) 213, such as UNIX,or the like. The operating system facilitates the execution of one ormore programs. For example, the control program in the OS 213 mayinclude high-level control software, session managers as well as one ormore databases storing relevant control information. The control programinitiates one session management routine 207 for each call in progress.The session manager receives and processes various signals from the callprocessing function routines and provides the necessary instructions tothose routines to execute each individual call processing function. Thecontrol program also controls or administers TCP/IP addressing functionsand initiates certain necessary signaling communications. The controlprocessor or controller 209 determines which network will be used toroute call requests and whether a WAN, local loop, or wireless LAN typeof session should be established. The bridging routine 211 allows thedifferent sessions to communicate with each other and change sessiontypes. The programs include driver routines for wireless LAN AP driver215 coupled to 802.XX AP 217, CDMA transceiver driver 205 coupled toCDMA transceiver 229, and local loop driver 231 coupled to RJ-11 port227.

When a wireless communications unit 113 moves to a location in or near aresidence having a residential gateway 200, the control processor orcontroller 209 directs the wireless LAN transceiver, 802.XX AP 217,which is coupled to and cooperatively operable with the controlprocessor 209, to form an association with the wireless communicationsunit. In certain embodiments, the wireless communications unitrecognizes the residential gateway (RG) 200 by receiving a beacon fromthe wireless LAN transceiver 802.XX AP 217 and thereafter thecommunication unit and residential gateway form the association in aknown manner. The WAN transceiver 229 is operable on the wireless WANs124, 131, in certain embodiments a packet data WAN, a 3G WAN, a UMTSWAN, or other broadband WAN.

The WAN transceiver 229 and the controller cooperatively operate tosupport a wireless connection with the WAN and forward a message via theWAN that corresponds to or affects call routing whenever the associationwith the wireless communication unit changes. For example, when anassociation with a wireless communication unit is formed, a registrationmessage is sent via a WAN session to the WAN, specifically directed tothe soft switch 119. The registration message affects a call routingupdate so that calls to the wireless communications unit are routed tothe local loop and thus the gateway 111, 200 when the association isformed. The CDMA transceiver 229 and the control processor also operateto receive an acknowledgement of the registration message via the WANsession. This registration message results in the wireless communicationunit basically deregistering from the WAN and updating the home locationregister so that calls are delivered to the soft switch 119 and thus incertain embodiments forwarded to the local loop.

In one embodiment the gateway via the transceiver and controller sendsthe message to the soft switch 119 via a WAN session and the soft switchwill initiate a location update procedure with the HLR 121. The HLR 121updates the location information for the relevant communication unit 113to provide a virtual location area. This may appear to be a visitedcellular system or a portion of the home cellular WANs coverage area tothe cellular WAN 124 and will conform to the appropriate standards forlocation information in the HLR. Note that the HLR may be resident inthe cellular WAN 124 (e.g. MSC 129) or associated with the soft switch.The HLR acknowledges the registration message to the soft switch and anacknowledgment message is sent to the gateway via the WAN session. Thegateway will assign a local LAN address to the communications unit aspart of this registration procedure.

Alternatively when the association changes, the WAN CDMA transceiver 229and the controller 209 operate to send a deregistration message via aWAN session to the WAN 131, specifically directed to the soft switch111. The deregistration message effects a call routing update so thatcalls to the wireless communications unit are not routed to the localloop when the association is no longer available. The CDMA transceiver229 and the control processor 209 also operate to receive anacknowledgement of the deregistration message via the WAN session. Inmore detail and in certain embodiments the deregistration message isanother registration message that is sent to soft switch and appropriatelocation update procedures are then performed with the HLR. This messageis acknowledged by the HLR and the soft switch acknowledges the requestto the gateway.

The association between the gateway and the communication unit will nolonger be available, for example when the communication unit is poweredoff, moves out of an actual or desired range of the wireless LAN orgateway, or some user intervention that interrupts the association. Notethat either the communication unit or gateway can determine that thesignal quality has dropped to the point that a reliable wireless LANconnection can no longer be maintained or if the unit has access tolocation information, such as GPS position information or coordinatesthe unit may decide or determine that the desired range has beenexceeded. In either case the association can be dropped or discontinued.Presumably at this point the wireless communication unit will registerdirectly via the cellular WAN and calls for the unit or from the unitwill be handled directly using known techniques via the cellular WAN 124or possibly packet data WAN 131.

A local loop interface, RJ-11 port 227, is coupled to and iscooperatively operable with the control processor 209 to support aconnection with a local loop when appropriate. In operation the gatewayhas a number of applications, most directed to call routing that willfavor routing calls, incoming and outgoing, to the local loop ratherthan the WANs 124, 131 when appropriate. For example, when thecontroller 209 cooperatively with the local loop interface 227 receivesan incoming call indication via the local loop, the controller with thewireless LAN transceiver 217 will operate to forward the incoming callindication via a wireless LAN session to the wireless communicationsunit 113 and receive a response from the wireless communications unit.Once a response is received the gateway (controller and local loopinterface) will answer an incoming call corresponding to the incomingcall indication on the local loop and couple the incoming call to thewireless communications unit via the wireless LAN session with thecommunications unit. Note that the forwarding the call to the wirelesscommunication unit can be a configuration parameter for the gateway andmay be unconditional (always), never, or conditioned on the identity ofthe wireless communication unit, a caller identity (caller ID), and soforth.

Another example of operation where the gateway controls call routing viaa selected network is where the wireless LAN transceiver 217cooperatively with the controller 209 receives a call request from thewireless communications unit via a wireless LAN session. In thisinstance when the local loop is available, the controller cooperativelywith the local loop interface initiates a local loop call request to apublic switched telephone network and receives, responsive thereto, oneof a call ringing, a call answer and a busy signal. An appropriatemessage corresponding to the call ringing, e.g. ringing, call answer, orbusy signal can be applied via the wireless LAN session for the benefitof the wireless communication unit. Basically the gateway issues a callrequest via the local loop to the PSTN and handles call setup. If thePSTN replies with a call answer the call is coupled to the communicationunit via the wireless LAN session.

Note that whether the local loop is available includes the controllertogether with the local loop interface monitoring the local loop for abusy condition (off hook) prior to initiating the local loop callrequest. When a call answer is received from the PSTN or when a callrequest is sent to the PSTN or as part of this process of initiating thelocal loop call request, the controller cooperatively with the WANtransceiver sends a message via a WAN session and the wireless WAN 131to the soft switch indicating that the local loop is busy. Acorresponding message is sent to the soft switch via a wireless WANsession indicating the local loop is idle when a call corresponding tothe local loop call request has been completed as indicated, forexample, by either party hanging up. Note that when the soft switch 111knows that the local loop is busy, inbound calls to the wirelesscommunication unit will not be forwarded to the local loop via the softswitch but rather will be routed normally to the communications unit viathe appropriate WAN 124, 131.

Alternatively, e.g. local loop is not available, as determined by thecontroller 209 together with the local loop interface 227 monitoring thelocal loop for a busy condition and the busy condition being detected,the controller cooperatively with the WAN transceiver initiates a WANcall request corresponding to the call request via the WAN andresponsive thereto receives, from the WAN, a status messagecorresponding to one of call ringing, a busy signal, and a call answer.The controller together with the wireless LAN transceiver in someembodiments can then forward to the wireless communications unit via thewireless LAN session a message corresponding to the status message.

When the status message is a call answer, the controller and the WANtransceiver operate to set up a WAN call via the WAN session and thecontroller and the wireless LAN transceiver operate to couple the WANcall to the wireless communications unit via the wireless LAN sessionand bridging 211 and session management 207 routines. Thus an end-to-endvoice path is established, via VoIP packet data techniques in someembodiments, and conversation occurs. If the status message is a busysignal or the called party does not answer, e.g. communications unithangs up or gives up or a time out occurs or after the conversation isover indicated by a party hanging up the wireless WAN, soft switch, HLR,etc, will release all resources and clear all status information relatedto the call or would be call. Note also that when the busy condition isdetected the controller further determines whether the busy conditionresults from an other wireless LAN session with the wirelesscommunications unit and if so, the controller together with the localloop interface operates to initiate a conference call via the local looputilizing known techniques.

Thus, the gateway operating in the environment of FIG. 1 is capable ofrouting traffic via a preferential network, presumably lower costnetwork when that network is available without undue inconvenience to auser. The gateway could also be used, for example, in a businessapplication for a small office location and would control registrationand validation procedures to limit service to only the wirelesscommunications units authorized by the owner of the system, e.g. tolimit usage to employees. Another application relates to public wirelessaccess in an airport, shopping center, hotel/convention center, or thelike. The system would control registration and validation proceduresand might limit service to only the wireless communications unitssupplied to temporary subscribers.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram of a method of controlling callrouting for a communication unit via a selected network will bedescribed and discussed. Some of this discussion will be in the natureof a review of the above noted concepts and principles and thus will bepresented in a summary fashion. Also note that this method of FIG. 3 andfollowing methods will be discussed within the context of the structuresand apparatus reviewed above. It is understood that these structures andso forth are merely exemplary and that the methods can be advantageouslypracticed in other devices, structures, and the like provided similarfunctionality is available.

The process starts at 301, and is typified for example by a wirelesscommunications unit migrating or moving toward or away from a locationhaving a residential gateway or gateway 200 located therein. If thecommunication unit is recognized, e.g. authorized by the gateway then at303, the wireless communication unit determines whether to register orderegister from, e.g. form or drop an association with, the gateway.More specifically at 303, if the gateway detects a wirelesscommunications unit 113 operable on the corresponding wireless LAN, at305 a wireless LAN association is established with the gateway orresidential gateway (RG) access point (AP). At 307 a connection isestablished between the RG and the WAN, specifically the soft switch viathe wireless WAN, although this connection likely already exists longbefore the association with the communications unit. At 309 aregistration message is forwarded via a WAN session to the soft switch.The message includes and effects call routing information and updatesfor the wireless communications unit. As noted above this message isdirected to the soft switch (SS) 119 which may in turn, initiatelocation update procedures corresponding to the wireless communicationunit at the HLR 121. In this fashion at 311 call routing is updated andcalls to the wireless communications unit are routed and thus deliveredto the local loop 105 that is coupled to the RG. At 313, theregistration message is acknowledged by the HLR and thus soft switch andan acknowledgement of the registration message is received by the RG viaa WAN session. The RG assigns a local area network address for wirelesscommunications unit at 315, responsive to the acknowledgement. Thecontrol processor of the RG operates to assign a LAN address to thewireless communications unit, responsive to the acknowledgment. Thus,when the wireless communications unit associates with the RG 200, a“location update” directive is sent to the HLR so that calls to thewireless communication unit are delivered to a selected network, e.g.PSTN local loop. The process ends at 325.

The procedure for deregistering or disassociating a wirelesscommunications unit with or from the RG 200 of FIG. 2 will be describedbelow. When the wireless communications unit is powered off, moves awayfrom or otherwise deregisters from the RG 200, the following procedureoccurs to terminate the association with the RG 200. Thereafterpresumably the wireless communications unit will need to be serveddirectly by the WAN 124 or cellular system or perhaps anotherresidential gateway and will thus register with the system. A wirelesscommunications unit or RG can terminate the association with the RG 200,as a result of various situations, such as (1) location tracking withpresent location greater than desired distance from RG 200; (2) accesspoint link quality no longer sufficient; or (3) a user indication viahuman interaction with device.

Thus when a wireless communications unit is not detected at 303, theassociation is terminated with the RG AP at 317. When the associationhas been terminated, the RG 200 sends a deregistration message to theWAN, specifically soft switch, via a WAN session at 319. The SSinitiates an appropriate location update procedure with the HLR. Thesubscriber is not reachable at this time and until it re registers. Thederegistration or location update message effects a call routing updateso that calls to the wireless communications unit are not routed to alocal loop that is coupled to the RG when the wireless communicationsunit is no longer detected. The location information is updated in theHLR and the soft switch call routing is updated to stop delivering callsto the local loop at 321. The subscriber will become reachable the nexttime the wireless communications unit registers with the cellular systemor associates with the RG 200. In typical operation, this will occur assoon as the wireless communications unit recognizes the cellular system.The HLR acknowledges the deregistration request to the SS and the SSacknowledges the deregistration request to the RG 200 at 323 via the WANsession. The process then ends at 325 but is continually repeatedstarting at 303 to determine whether the residential gateway detects awireless communications unit.

Referring to FIG. 4, a more detailed flow diagram of a method used toselect a network for routing incoming calls will be discussed anddescribed. The method of FIG. 4 is undertaken assuming the wirelesscommunication unit 113 has associated with the gateway 200 via forexample the method of FIG. 3 and that calls for the unit are beingdelivered via the local loop. The method begins at 401 and at 403receiving an incoming call indication via the local loop is shown. Notethat the soft switch 119 selects the local loop for call delivery basedon busy/idle status maintained in the call routing function of the softswitch. At 405 establishing a wireless LAN session with thecommunications unit is undertaken. Next at 407 forwarding the incomingcall indication to and receiving a response from the wirelesscommunications unit via the wireless LAN session is shown. As notedearlier the forwarding the incoming call indication can be configuredand conditional. Receiving the response normally entails receiving acall answer or off hook indication. If the communication unit does notanswer the call then the response will not be received and the call willnot be answered by the gateway 200. Of course another POTS unit 103 mayanswer the call or answering machine and the like. Given that theresponse is received and the call has been answered by the communicationunit, at 409 the gateway answers an incoming call corresponding to theincoming call indication on the local loop and couples the incoming callto the wireless communications unit via the wireless LAN session. Whenthe call is over e.g. a party hangs up, the gateway 200 drops thesession and hangs up the local loop and the method ends at 411.

Referring to FIG. 5, a more detailed flow diagram of a method used toselect a network to route outgoing calls will be discussed anddescribed. As above various references to the previously describedstructures such as the gateway will be used for the sake of clarity andconvenience. However it is understood that other apparatus with similarfunctionality can be used advantageously to practice the method of FIG.5. Furthermore some of the discussions below cover concepts andprinciples previously disclosed and discussed and thus will be presentedin the nature of a summary. The method of FIG. 5 presumes that themethod of FIG. 3 has been undertaken and that a wireless communicationunit is associated with a gateway and that incoming calls are beingrouted via the selected network, or local loop. The method begins at 500and at 501 a call request for a particular party or number is receivedfrom the wireless communication unit via a wireless LAN session. At 503whether the local loop is busy is determined by for example monitoringthe local loop for a busy condition via known techniques. When the localloop is not busy, 505 shows initiating a local loop call requestcorresponding to the call request to a public switched telephone networkand receiving one of a call ringing, a call answer and a busy statussignal. As noted above the appropriate message corresponding to thestatus signal can be sent to the communication unit if desired. At 507sending a message via a WAN session indicating the local loop is busyupon initiation of or as part of the local loop call request or ensuingand corresponding call is undertaken. When the corresponding call hasbeen completed, a message indicating the local loop is idle is sent withthese messages having the effects discussed herein above. The methodthen ends at 517.

When the local loop busy condition is detected at 503, a furtherdetermination is made at 509, specifically whether the busy conditionresults from another ongoing wireless LAN session with the same wirelesscommunication unit. If so at 511 a conference call is initiated via thelocal loop according to known techniques. Note that the message that thelocal loop is busy that was sent at 507 is not necessary, however themessage that the local loop is no longer busy will need to be delayeduntil the communications unit is no longer involved in the conferencecall. After 511 the method ends at 517. If at 509 the busy condition isnot related to the communication unit, 513 shows initiating a WAN callrequest corresponding to the call request via the WAN and responsivethereto receiving, from the WAN, a status message corresponding to oneof call ringing, a busy signal, and a call answer. These status messagesor a corresponding message can be forwarded to the communication unit asabove noted. When the status message is a call answer, 515 indicatessetting up a WAN call and coupling the WAN call to the wirelesscommunications unit via a wireless LAN session. The method then ends at517.

Thus a method and corresponding gateway has been described and discussedfor selecting a network for initiating or routing a call with a wirelesscommunication unit, where the method comprises: receiving a call requestfrom a wireless communications unit via a WLAN session; checking thestatus of a first network and; when the first network is availableinitiating, via the first network, a first network call requestcorresponding to the call request and sending a message via a secondnetwork indicating that the first network is no longer available; andwhen the first network is not available, initiating, via the secondnetwork, a second network call request corresponding to the callrequest. The initiating a first network call request can furthercomprise: receiving one of a call ringing, a call answer and a busysignal; and sending a message via the second network indicating that thefirst network is idle when a call corresponding to the first networkcall request has been completed. Similarly the initiating a secondnetwork call request can further comprise receiving, from the secondnetwork, a status message corresponding to one of call ringing, a busysignal, and a call answer; and in either situation forwarding to thewireless communications unit a message corresponding to the statusmessage. In other embodiments this method further comprises determiningwhether the first network is not available as a result of another WLANsession with the wireless communications unit; and when the firstnetwork is not available as a result of the another WLAN session,initiating a conference call via one of the first network and the secondnetwork. The method can additionally comprises receiving an indicationof an incoming call; and selecting one of providing a ringing message tothe wireless communication unit, not providing the ringing message tothe wireless communication unit, and providing the ringing message tothe wireless communications unit depending on a caller identification(ID) of a calling party according to configuration information at thegateway.

This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use variousembodiments in accordance with the invention rather than to limit thetrue, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoingdescription is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possiblein light of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) were chosen anddescribed to provide the best illustration of the principles of theinvention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments andwith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scopeof the invention as determined by the appended claims, as may be amendedduring the pendency of this application for patent, and all equivalentsthereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which theyare fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

1. A gateway for controlling call routing via a selected network, thegateway comprising: a controller configured to support and control thefunctionality of the gateway; a wireless local area network (LAN)transceiver, coupled to and cooperatively operable with the controllerto form an association with a wireless communications unit; a local loopinterface coupled to and cooperatively operable with the controller tosupport a connection with a local loop; and a wide area network (WAN)transceiver, coupled to and cooperatively operable with the controllerto support a wireless connection with a WAN and forward a message viathe WAN corresponding to call routing when the association with thewireless communications unit changes.
 2. The gateway of claim 1, whereinthe WAN transceiver and the controller operate: to send a registrationmessage via a WAN session to the WAN, the registration message effectinga call routing update so that calls to the wireless communications unitare routed to the local loop when the association is formed; and toreceive an acknowledgement of the registration message via the WANsession.
 3. The gateway of claim 2, wherein the controller operates toassign a LAN address to the wireless communications unit, responsive tothe acknowledgment.
 4. The gateway of claim 1, wherein the WANtransceiver and the controller operate: to send a deregistration messagevia a WAN session to the WAN, the deregistration message effecting acall routing update so that calls to the wireless communications unitare not routed to the local loop when the association is no longeravailable; and to receive an acknowledgement of the deregistrationmessage via the WAN session.
 5. The gateway of claim 1, wherein thecontroller: cooperatively with the local loop interface operates toreceive an incoming call indication via the local loop; cooperativelywith the wireless LAN transceiver operates to forward the incoming callindication via a wireless LAN session with the wireless communicationsunit and receive a response from the wireless communications unit; andcooperatively with the local loop interface and the wireless LANtransceiver answers an incoming call corresponding to the incoming callindication on the local loop and couples the incoming call to thewireless communications unit via the wireless LAN session when theresponse is received.
 6. The gateway of claim 1, wherein: the wirelessLAN transceiver cooperatively with the controller receives a callrequest from the wireless communications unit via a wireless LANsession; and when the local loop is available, the controllercooperatively with the local loop interface initiates a local loop callrequest to a public switched telephone network and receives one of acall ringing, a call answer, and a busy signal.
 7. The gateway of claim6, wherein: the controller together with the local loop interfacemonitors the local loop for a busy condition prior to initiating thelocal loop call request; and the controller cooperatively with the WANtransceiver sends a message via a WAN session indicating the local loopis busy upon initiating the local loop call request and a messageindicating the local loop is idle when a call corresponding to the localloop call request has been completed.
 8. The gateway of claim 6, whereinthe controller together with the local loop interface monitors the localloop for a busy condition; when the busy condition is detected, thecontroller cooperatively with the WAN transceiver initiates a WAN callrequest corresponding to the call request via the WAN and responsivethereto receives, from the WAN, a status message corresponding to one ofcall ringing, a busy signal, and a call answer; and the controllertogether with the wireless LAN transceiver forwards to the wirelesscommunications unit a message corresponding to the status message. 9.The gateway of claim 8, wherein when the status message is a callanswer, the controller and the WAN transceiver operate to set up a WANcall and the controller and the wireless LAN transceiver operate tocouple the WAN call to the wireless communications unit via the wirelessLAN session.
 10. The gateway of claim 6, wherein: the controllertogether with the local loop interface monitors the local loop for abusy condition and when the busy condition is detected furtherdetermines whether the busy condition results from another wireless LANsession with the wireless communications unit; and when the busycondition results from the other wireless LAN session, the controllertogether with the local loop interface operates to initiate a conferencecall via the local loop.
 11. The gateway of claim 1, wherein: the LANtransceiver is operable on one of an IEEE 802.11 network and a HiperLannetwork; and the WAN transceiver is operable on one of packet data WAN,a 3G WAN, a UMTS WAN, and a broadband WAN.
 12. A method of controllingcall routing via a selected network, the method comprising: detecting ata gateway a wireless communications unit operable on a wireless localarea network (LAN); establishing a connection between the gateway and awireless wide area network (WAN) via the wireless WAN; and forwarding amessage via the wireless WAN, the message including call routinginformation for the communication unit.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the forwarding the message further comprises forwarding aregistration message via a WAN session to the WAN, the registrationmessage effecting a call routing update so that calls to the wirelesscommunications unit are routed to a local loop that is coupled to thegateway when the wireless communications unit is detected; and themethod further comprises receiving an acknowledgement of theregistration message via the WAN session.
 14. The method of claim 13,further comprising, assigning a LAN address to the wirelesscommunications unit, responsive to the acknowledgment.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the forwarding the message further comprisesforwarding a deregistration message via a WAN session to the WAN, thederegistration message effecting a call routing update so that calls tothe wireless communications unit are not routed to a local loop that iscoupled to the gateway when the wireless communications unit is nolonger detected; and the method further comprises receiving anacknowledgement of the deregistration message via the WAN session. 16.The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving an incoming callindication via a local loop; establishing a wireless LAN session withthe wireless communications unit; forwarding the incoming callindication to and receiving a response from the wireless communicationsunit via the wireless LAN session; and when the response is received,answering an incoming call corresponding to the incoming call indicationon the local loop and coupling the incoming call to the wirelesscommunications unit via the wireless LAN session.
 17. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: receiving a call request from the wirelesscommunications unit via a wireless LAN session; monitoring a local loopfor a busy condition; when the local loop is not busy, initiating alocal loop call request corresponding to the call request to a publicswitched telephone network and receiving one of a call ringing, a callanswer and a busy signal; and sending a message via a WAN sessionindicating the local loop is busy upon initiating the local loop callrequest and a message indicating the local loop is idle when a callcorresponding to the local loop call request has been completed.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising: when the busy condition isdetected, initiating a WAN call request corresponding to the callrequest via the WAN and responsive thereto receiving, from the WAN, astatus message corresponding to one of call ringing, a busy signal, anda call answer; and forwarding to the wireless communications unit amessage corresponding to the status message.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising: when the status message is a call answer, setting upa WAN call; and coupling the WAN call to the wireless communicationsunit via the wireless LAN session.
 20. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: when the busy condition is detected, determining whether thebusy condition results from another wireless LAN session with thewireless communications unit; and when the busy condition results fromthe other wireless LAN session, initiating a conference call via thelocal loop.
 21. The method of claim 12, practiced by a residentialgateway wherein: the LAN is one of an IEEE 802.11 network and a HiperLannetwork; and the WAN is one of a packet data WAN, a 3G WAN, a UMTS WAN,and a broadband WAN.
 22. A method of selecting a network for initiatinga call, the method comprising: receiving a call request from a wirelesscommunications unit via a WLAN session; checking the status of a firstnetwork and; when the first network is available initiating, via thefirst network, a first network call request corresponding to the callrequest and sending a message via a second network indicating that thefirst network is no longer available; and when the first network is notavailable, initiating, via the second network, a second network callrequest corresponding to the call request.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein initiating a first network call request further comprises:receiving one of a call ringing, a call answer and a busy signal; andsending a message indicating that the first network is idle when a callcorresponding to the first network call request has been completed. 24.The method of claim 22, wherein initiating a second network call requestfurther comprises: receiving, from the second network, a status messagecorresponding to one of call ringing, a busy signal, and a call answer;and forwarding to the wireless communications unit a messagecorresponding to the status message.
 25. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising: determining whether the first network is not available as aresult of another WLAN session with the wireless communications unit;and when the first network is not available as a result of the anotherWLAN session, initiating a conference call via one of the first networkand the second network.
 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:receiving an indication of an incoming call; and selecting one ofproviding a ringing message to the wireless communication unit, notproviding the ringing message to the wireless communication unit, andproviding the ringing message to the wireless communications unitdepending on a caller identification (ID) of a calling party.